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damian

I eyed my wife warily as she slid out of the town car, her small smile causing suspicion to flit through me as I followed her out.

She had been dreading this yacht trip ever since our families announced it.

Which meant her positive attitude was a front for our parents—or she was planning something in retaliation for me leaving her without an orgasm last weekend.

She had been quiet all week, and I had no idea what she had been up to while I spent the days at work.

Other than shopping. According to my billing statement, she’d filled her closet with designer clothes using the credit card I’d given her.

I had a feeling she was blowing through money in another attempt to get under my skin.

She should know better. Her spending barely put a dent in my monthly bills.

“Natalia.”

She didn’t react to me calling her name, continuing toward the yacht. With a sigh, I caught up to her, my hand landing on her lower back. She slowly tilted her face to look at me, and I arched an eyebrow at her bored expression.

“We’re about to spend three days on this boat. A place you can’t run away from me,” I warned, swallowing my amusement when a smirk grew on her lips. Oh, she was definitely up to something. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

“Run away?” she repeated with a giggle. “Leave my amazing husband who stalked me and then left me on the edge?” She raised on her tiptoes until her lips brushed my cheek. “Why would I want to run away from you?”

Before I could say anything, Charlotte’s voice cut through the air, and Talie pushed away from me to greet her sister.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, taking a few deep breaths.

The last thing I wanted to do was act nice in front of my father’s business partners this weekend.

Now I had to worry about whatever scheme my wife was planning.

It was going to be a long weekend. Though not enough to regret what I did.

If Talie wanted to flirt with another man in front of me, then I was more than happy to do all of that again.

Talie and Char walked across the ramp, going onto the yacht. My wife snuck a glance at me before disappearing inside.

“How’s married life?” Rhyett asked, stepping up beside me. “You two madly in love yet?”

Ash scoffed as he appeared on my other side. “When weren’t they madly in love?”

“We never even dated before we got married,” I reminded him as we headed toward the boat. “It was all business.”

“Does telling yourself that make you feel better?” Ash asked, obviously set on getting under my skin. “Because Talie has been the only woman who ever held your attention. Even when we were teens.”

I clenched my jaw, not saying anything. He would only argue more. And…he was fucking right. Whether I admitted it out loud or not, my eyes had always been on Talie. First, it was friendship, but that only grew the older we got.

I had never planned to act on anything because she was younger than me, and then when she turned eighteen, I still left her alone because she’d made it abundantly clear that she didn’t want anything to do with this life.

But when the idea of a marriage came up to make us both happy?

There hadn’t been any part of me that wanted to say no.

“Damian, it’s good to see you.”

My father’s voice instantly shot aggravation through me, but I forced a pleasant smile before turning around.

“This is Mr. Hart,” my father introduced the silver-haired man next to him. “We’ll be having cigars with him after dinner tonight.”

Great. I’d rather spend time with Tali and her pranks than be stuck in stuffy conversations about business.

Even if this weekend was to celebrate my marriage and Talie being home, my father would use it to expand his fortune like he always did.

My two best friends scurried away like a couple of traitors as my father began droning on about a topic I had no interest in.

But like the dutiful son I was, I listened intently as we boarded the yacht.

“How is your wife?” Christian asked before puffing on his cigar. “Your mother and I haven’t seen much of you two since she came home.”

“She’s adjusting,” I muttered. “She’s been at school a long time.”

“Too long.” He stubbed out his cigar carefully. “She never should have left.”

I raised the glass to my mouth. “Why drag up the past? It’s over.”

“Is she pregnant yet?”

I nearly choked on my whiskey. After wiping my chin, I set the cup down on the small table in front of our plush chairs.

I clenched my teeth, my pulse thudding rapidly.

Blowing out a heavy breath, I attempted to swallow my agitation.

It didn’t matter how old I got or how successful—my father would look at me as nothing more than a kid who heeded his demands.

“No,” I finally answered. “She’s not.”

His eyes flashed with annoyance. “Why?”

“I’m not a twenty-year-old fucking kid anymore,” I snapped, my self-control nonexistent like it always seemed to be when it came to Talie. “When my wife and I decide to have a baby, it’ll be our decision. No one else’s.”

“Is that how you always speak to your father, or is it only when you’re alone?”

My gaze flicked to the now open door, and I groaned internally when Jude strode in.

I wanted to spend time with Talie’s father about as much as I wanted to be with my own.

Jude didn’t say a word as he went to pour himself a drink from the bar.

The room we were in was the cigar club. Everything in it was shades of black and dark brown.

Black leather armchairs surrounded a center table with ash trays.

“Your son-in-law seems to forget who’s in charge in our families,” my father murmured, a quiet rage storming in his eyes.

I swallowed thickly, my anger growing. “Believe me, I didn’t forget. You two do what you want with the business. Natalia is my wife. My responsibility. She’s home, doing what is expected of her.”

Jude tsked, shaking his head. “Yet, you’re still coming to functions alone, as if she were still gone.”

“We know she’s not busy,” my father added. “She’s not working.”

Fury raced down my spine, but I didn’t move a muscle as I remained silent. I checked my watch, hoping I wouldn’t spend the whole damn night in here.

“I don’t have to worry about this marriage, do I?” Jude asked, dropping ice into his drink.

“Of course not.” Christian got to his feet. “The contract is set in stone.”

“Yes,” Jude drawled. “So we all know what happens if your son requests a divorce.”

“That won’t be happening. Talie and I are happily married,” I ground out.

Jude sat in the chair across from me. “One more thing. You know a man named Percy?”

My heart lurched, but I remained expressionless. “Why?”

“He’s been talking as if he knows you.” Jude raised an eyebrow. “You making business deals without us?”

“No,” I clipped out, standing up. “I’ve met him on a few occasions.”

“Anything related to our enterprises goes through me or Jude,” my father said firmly. “Understand?”

“I’m well aware. Are we done? I have a date with my wife.”

“We’ll see you both for brunch tomorrow,” Jude said, not taking the time to look at me.

I didn’t miss his warning. He was expecting Talie to show up at more events—both for family and business.

“Mr. Hart will be joining us again. We need to make a good impression. He’s interested in investing for Charleston Tower. ”

I glanced at him in surprise. “I thought you were already in talks with Georgia and her company?”

Christian scowled. “When she asked if your wife would be a part of it, she didn’t like our answer. She backed out.”

I swallowed my amusement. Since I’d met Georgia on the night Talie fed me seafood, the memory of that dinner was stuck in my mind. The moment I’d been introduced to her, I knew she wouldn't go into business with my father and Jude.

“We’ll be at brunch,” I muttered, in no mood to stay any longer.

Without another word, I stormed out of the room, inhaling a deep breath of fresh air.

The cigar room was on a deck below sea level, and I glanced down the hall, not seeing another soul.

Unlike the rich, white carpet in the cigar room and all the staterooms, the halls and main part of the interior of the ship had dark hardwood flooring.

The walls were painted a light beige with random paintings placed every few feet.

My family owned this yacht, but I only went on it once a year when we had this party. I had no interest in going on long family vacations or using it for business trips like my father and Jude.

I made my way upstairs until the salty air hit my nostrils.

The boat rocked gently, and I stopped, resting my forearms on the railing.

Agitation was still strumming through me like it always did when I was in my father’s presence for long.

Knowing Percy was using my name around our business circles only furthered my annoyance.

Now, I was going to have to talk to him when I usually avoided him at all fucking costs.

But that wasn’t the reason my heart was still racing.

Why my father’s words had struck such a hard fucking chord.

It was different. In the past five years, I’d changed—so had Talie.

Even more so since she returned home. She’d found her confidence, her voice .

She’d never be the wife our families wanted.

I didn’t want that wife either.

I wanted the woman who she had become. She was outspoken. Strong. Vengeful. I'd endure her anger aimed at me as long as it meant she would stay.

The only problem was my wife was holding a grudge. A hate I deserved.

But now I wanted to change it.

I didn’t want our marriage to be only fucking business. I wanted her. I knew it five years ago, and her being back only made it certain.

My phone went off, and I pulled it from my jacket pocket to see Rhyett’s text.

I chuckled, shaking my head, deciding to forgo my marriage issues for the rest of the night.

Talie wasn’t ready for the talk I wanted to have with her.

Not when she was still furious with me about my overly possessive behavior.

Pushing off the railing, I went up one more flight of stairs before stopping at the first closed door.

I texted Rhyett back, and waited, hearing music through the door.

A few seconds later, it was pulled open, revealing Rhyett, who grinned as he motioned for me to come inside before shutting the door behind me.

The small bar area had its lights dimmed.

Leather couches and chairs filled most of the area.

Music was blaring out of the speakers. A couple small tables with chairs were placed between the other furniture, and there were already half empty drinks scattered all over them.

There was no bartender, meaning this night wouldn’t get back to our families, which was what my best friends wanted.

A smile lifted my lips when I spotted my wife.

Maybe this night wasn’t completely ruined.